Dispensary & Marijuana Glossary

Basic Terminology

Accessories

Tools like pipes, grinders, and electronic devices used to take or use medical marijuana products.

Aroma/Flavors

A term used to describe the general smell and/or taste of a certain plant or flower.

Banger/Bucket

A type of nail of a dab rig used to heat and vaporize concentrated marijuana products.

Bowl

The piece that holds the marijuana in a pipe, glass, or ceramic instrument used to smoke marijuana.

Blunt

A marijuana-filled cigar that’s been emptied of its original content. It’s rolled up and smoked similar to a big marijuana cigarette.

Bud

Another name for Flower.

Butane Hash Oil (BHO)

BHO is a marijuana concentrate made by using butane as the main solvent during extraction.

Cannabinoids

An element of marijuana that activates brain receptors, creating potential medicinal effects.

Cannabis

The technical term for marijuana.

CanPay

A digital payment solution created for the marijuana industry. It enables people to purchase marijuana products using electronic transactions instead of cash.

Cardholder

A qualifying patient, designated caregiver, or compassion center agent who has been issued and possesses a valid and registered identification card.

Cartridge Battery

A cartridge battery, or a 510-thread battery, is a rechargeable device for powering vape cartridges that heats the contents for inhalation.

CBD (Cannabidiol)

An important medicinal cannabinoid found in the marijuana plant, with non-psychoactive effects.

Compassion Center

A manufacturing facility (grower/producer) or dispensary (retail store).

Compassion Center Agent

A principal officer, board member, manager, governor, employee, volunteer, or agent of a compassion center.

Dab

General term used to describe various marijuana oils such as wax, shatter, or live resin.

Designated Caregiver

Someone who agrees to take care of a registered qualifying patient’s well-being concerning their medical use of marijuana.

Dispensary

Any location where a registered qualifying patient or designated caregiver can legally obtain and purchase medical marijuana.

Distillate

A refined and purified version of a marijuana extract.

Flowers

The buds of the marijuana plant contain the highest concentration of medicinal components.

Grinder

A tool used to grind marijuana in preparation for smoking or vaporizing.

Health Care Provider

A physician, a physician assistant, or an advanced practice registered nurse.

Hybrid

A marijuana strain that blends Sativa and Indica.

Indica

A strain known for its possible relaxing physical effects.

Kief

A fine, powdery substance consisting of small, sticky parts called trichomes found on marijuana buds. It can be gathered intentionally or by handling the flower.

Live

Refers to marijuana concentrates like “live resin” or “live rosin” which are made from freshly harvested plant material that preserves the plant’s natural flavors and range of possible therapeutic effects.

Nug

Abbreviation for nuggets, also known as pieces of Flower.

Oil Rig

An oil rig, also known as a bong, is a device used for smoking concentrated marijuana-like oils and waxes. It cools the vapor with water, making it gentler to inhale.

Phenotype

The general physical characteristics of a plant like height, color, branching, or cell structure that can be used to identify and determine the health of the plant.

Pipe

Glass or ceramic instruments used to smoke marijuana.

Pre-roll

A small cigarette-like cone that contains medical marijuana.

Pure Dakota Trim

A combination of kief, shake, and trim to create a low-cost option for patients who don’t mind foregoing large buds.

Qualifying Patient

An individual who has been diagnosed by a health care provider as having a debilitating medical condition.

Roach

The end of a smoked joint or blunt.

Registry Identification Card

A document issued by the department which identifies an individual as a registered qualifying patient, registered designated caregiver, or registered compassion center agent.

Rosin

Rosin is a concentrated form of marijuana made by applying heat and pressure, rather than using chemicals. It results in a sticky, sap-like substance with potent effects.

Sativa

A strain known for its possible energizing cerebral effects and mood elevation.

Shake

Shake or “leftovers,” refers to the small amounts of marijuana that break off the main buds, due to regular handling of the product; resulting in finely ground marijuana flower.

Shatter

A highly refined marijuana concentrate with a hard surface that can be broken into smokeable pieces.

Strain

A specific variety of marijuana known by its own name and unique characteristics.

Sublingual

The method of consuming a product beneath the tongue.

Terpenes

Aromatic oils in marijuana and other plants which affect the smell, flavor, and effects of different strains.

THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol)

THC is a natural compound found in the marijuana plant and is responsible for some of the effects that patients experience when consuming.

Tincture or Cannabinoid Solution

A liquid solution infused with marijuana which is administered by placing it under the tongue, or through oral ingestion.

Topical

An oil-based product of varying forms that is rubbed into the skin for localized symptom relief.

Trichomes

The glands that are responsible for resin production.

Vape Cartridge

A pre-filled cartridge containing marijuana concentrate designed for vaporization.

Vaporizer

An electronic device that vaporizes marijuana for inhalation.

Water Pipe

A water pipe, also known as a bong, is a device used to smoke dried marijuana leaves and flower and cools the smoke in water.

Wax

Wax refers to the softer, opaque oils that have lost their transparency after post-processing. Waxes span a range of consistencies from Crumble to Budder.

Wrap

A thin material used to roll joints or blunts.